China’s World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi believes new Wales boss Ryan Giggs will prove a managerial success by following Sir Alex Ferguson‘s methods.
Giggs starts his first permanent role in management against Lippi on Thursday when Wales play the hosts in the China Cup.
But the two men are familiar foes from the time when Lippi’s Juventus and Ferguson’s Manchester United were bitter Champions League rivals.
“I want to meet Ryan Giggs because I remember when I was manager of Juventus at the end of 90s, we played many matches during the Champions League,” said Lippi, 69, who won five Serie A titles before claiming World Cup glory with Italy in 2006.
“It was Juventus against Man United so many times. He was an extraordinary player, very strong, I really like him.
“I hope he will become a very good coach as well, I wish him all the best, but I don’t feel I need to give him any advice.
“He had the best coach in Sir Alex Ferguson. He just needs to do what he learned from him.”
China – ranked 65th in the world and 45 places below Wales – face the prospect of coming up against Gareth Bale at the Guangxi Sports Center.
Bale took part in Wales’ first training session in Nanning after scoring in Real Madrid’s 6-3 LaLiga victory over Girona on Sunday night and completing a marathon 7,500-mile journey to southern China.
“We all know that Bale is a top player, but I will tell my players that we don’t have to focus on him,” Lippi said.
“We have to focus on Wales, because they have good players.
“Many people think there’s a big pressure for us to face a team like Wales, but we have to be smart to go through this kind of match because that is the only way we will improve.
“So I will tell my players to play as a team. The result is not important, for me it is how we play against this kind of opponent.”
The Czech Republic and Uruguay are also competing in the four-team tournament and play each other before the third place play-off and final on Monday.
Provided by Press Association Sport
